Recovery Centers Close, Loans and Other Disaster Assistance Continues

Aug 11, 2008 (DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY DOCUMENTS AND PUBLICATIONS/ContentWorks via COMTEX) -- SBCO | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- The lastDisaster Recovery Center closed today at 4:00 p.m. However, on Monday, August 11 that center reopens and transitions to a U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Loan Outreach Center where SBA specialists will remain to assist applicants. It'slocated at Michelsen's Office Furniture, 8020 North 2nd Street in Machesney Park.

Anyone who has applied for disaster assistance and has received a disaster-loan application from the SBA is urged to complete and return it as soon as possible. If SBA determines that a homeowner or renter is ineligible for a loan, that applicant willautomatically be referred to FEMA for other possible grant assistance. Applicants can also apply online with the SBA via their secure Web Site at disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/ Intotal there are three Disaster Loan Outreach Centers open in Illinois. These locations are:

Hancock County Dallas City Elementary School 921 Creamery Hill Road Dallas City, IL 62330 Hours: Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Closes: Thursday, August 21, 2008 at 5:30 p.m.

Rock Island County Milan Municipal Building 405 East 1st St Milan, IL 61264 Hours: Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Closes: Thursday, August 21, 2008 at 6 p.m.

Winnebago County Michelsen's Office Furniture 8020 N. 2nd St Machesney Park, IL 61115 Opens: Monday, August 11 at 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Hours: Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Closes: Thursday, August 21, 2008 at 6 p.m.

A FEMA Individual Assistance Specialist will be at each site to answer FEMA related questions.

To date, 3,004 homeowners and renters from the 18 designated counties have applied for disaster assistance.

* $6,794,685 in grants has been approved for Illinois applicants.

* $6,164,421 in housing assistance to cover temporary rental assistance, home repairs and replacement.

* $630,263 in Other Needs Assistance to cover essential personal property losses, medical, dental, funeral, transportation or other serious disaster-related expenses not covered by insurance.

* $4,994,300 in U.S. Small Business Administration disaster loans has been approved for 94 disaster assistance applicants.

* 2,205 disaster loan applications have been issued, 1,694 to residents and 511 to business owners

More than 1,773 Illinois residents have visited FEMA's Disaster Recovery Centers (DRC) for face-to-face meetings with disaster recovery specialists.

Renters and homeowners in the 18 Illinois disaster-designated counties who sustained damages or losses from the severe storms and flooding from June 1 through July 22 should be sure to register with FEMA right away if they have not already done so.The deadline to register is August 25, just over two weeks away.

Even those who are awaiting additional information or services from other sources should register now for assistance by calling FEMA's toll-free registration line, 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). Applicants with a hearing- or speech-impairmentwho have TTY equipment should call TTY 1-800-462-7585. The telephone lines are available daily from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. CDT. Applicants can also register online at www.fema.gov.

IEMA and FEMA have begun staging Disaster Mobile Homes in Springfield in preparation for occupancy by qualified applicants who have no other housing options.

The counties designated eligible for Individual Assistance are: Adams, Calhoun, Clark, Coles, Crawford, Cumberland, Douglas, Edgar, Hancock, Henderson, Jasper, Jersey, Lake, Lawrence, Mercer, Rock Island, Whiteside and Winnebago.Individual Assistance can include grants to help pay for temporary housing, essential home repairs and other necessary disaster-related expenses not covered by other sources.

FEMA coordinates the federal government's role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.

FEMA, 500 C Street SW, Washington, D.C. 20472; Disaster Assistance: (800) 621-FEMA

Release Number: 1771-049

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